Trump Vetoes Congressional Resolution To End U.S. Role in Yemen War

April 17, 2019 (EIRNS)— President Donald Trump vetoed the joint resolution to end U.S. involvement in the Yemen war. “I am returning herewith without my approval S.J.Res.7, a joint resolution that purports to direct the President to remove United States Armed Forces from hostilities in or affecting the Republic of Yemen,” Trump wrote yesterday. “This resolution is an unnecessary, dangerous attempt to weaken my constitutional authorities, endangering the lives of American citizens and brave service members, both today and in the future.”

The letter said the United States must continue supporting the Saudi-led coalition’s war in Yemen, including that the war represented a “cheap” way for Iran to cause trouble for the United States and its ally Saudi Arabia. However, Trump earlier ordered the termination of U.S. refueling of Saudi aircraft involved in the war. Current cooperation is limited to intelligence support and arms sales.

Trump urged Congress to focus efforts on helping the administration in ending U.S. involvement in Syria and Afghanistan.

“My Administration is currently accelerating negotiations to end our military engagement in Afghanistan and drawing down troops in Syria, where we recently succeeded in eliminating 100% of the ISIS caliphate,” Trump said in his message to the Senate. “Congressional engagement in those endeavors would be far more productive than expending time and effort trying to enact this unnecessary and dangerous resolution that interferes with our foreign policy with respect to Yemen.”